Horrific Pitbull Attack Leaves Delhi Child With Severe Injuries
A quiet Sunday afternoon turned into a nightmare for a six-year-old boy in northwest Delhi's Prem Nagar area when he was brutally attacked by a neighbor's pitbull, resulting in the complete severing of his right ear and multiple deep bite wounds to his head.
The terrifying incident, captured on CCTV cameras in the Vinay Enclave locality, shows the young boy playing catch with his elder brother in the cramped lanes outside his house when the game took a horrific turn.
The Attack Unfolds: A Missed Catch Leads to Tragedy
According to Kameshwar Rai, the victim's grandfather, the tragedy began around 3 pm when the boy missed a throw and the ball rolled toward the house where the pitbull was tied. The dog suddenly broke free from its owner's control and lunged at the child, sinking its teeth into his head.
"Everything happened in a flash," Rai told PTI, expressing his distress over the incident. The attack was so severe that it caused eight to ten deep bite marks on the back of his grandson's head, and his entire right ear was torn off completely.
Eyewitness Satish Kumar, who was sitting in his shop nearby, described the chaotic scene. "I suddenly saw a dog running. The dog grabbed the child by the face, and the boy was in serious pain," Kumar recalled. "Another man who was nearby helped me; together we tried to pull the dog away. I held the dog by its limbs, and finally it let go."
Heroic Rescue and Desperate Race to Save the Ear
After being rescued from the canine's jaws by two people, the panic-stricken child began running while bleeding heavily from where his ear had been. Kumar found himself in a surreal situation - chasing the injured boy while holding his severed ear.
"The child was panic-stricken and running to save himself, and I was running behind him with his severed ear in my hand because I was worried he might lose it completely," Kumar explained. "Thankfully that didn't happen."
The boy was initially rushed to BSA Hospital in Rohini with assistance from neighbors and was later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Despite the severe trauma, the child remains conscious and able to talk, though he has suffered broken teeth and significant facial injuries.
Previous Complaints Ignored, Owner Arrested
In a disturbing revelation, residents disclosed that the same pitbull had previously attacked four other children in the area. Rai alleged that despite multiple complaints to police requesting the dog's removal for community safety, no concrete action had been taken.
"We complained to the police and asked that the dog be taken away for everyone's safety, but no concrete action has been taken so far," Rai stated.
Police received a PCR call at Prem Nagar police station at 5:38 pm reporting the severe injury to the child. Preliminary investigation revealed that the pitbull belonged to Rajesh Pal (50), a tailor by profession. The dog had been brought home approximately one-and-a-half years ago by Pal's son, Sachin Pal, who is currently lodged in jail in connection with an attempt-to-murder case.
Based on the complaint and medical findings, a case has been registered under sections 291 and 125(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with negligent conduct with respect to animals and rash or negligent acts endangering life and safety of others. Police have arrested dog owner Rajesh Pal in connection with the incident.
A police team has collected the child's hospital records and taken statements from the victim's father, Dinesh (32), who works at a private factory in Kirti Nagar. The investigation continues as the community grapples with the aftermath of this brutal attack that has raised serious questions about pet ownership regulations and public safety.
